U. Southern California

Rankings

Data year Earned doctorates Full-time graduate students Total R&D expenditures Research space
Rank Percentile Institutions ranked Rank Percentile Institutions ranked Rank Percentile Institutions ranked Rank Percentile Institutions ranked
2024 29 94 459 5 99.4 631 27 97.2 925
2023 24 95 459 3 99.7 679 28 97.1 911 63 89.8 602
2022 32 93.3 457 2 99.8 680 27 97.1 900
2021 35 92.4 447 3 99.7 691 28 97 908 58 90.3 583
2020 32 93.2 450 3 99.7 698 27 97.2 916
2019 25 94.7 447 3 99.7 697 27 97.2 914 59 90.2 589
2018 30 93.3 428 5 99.4 700 23 97.6 911
2017 30 93.2 425 5 99.4 684 27 97.1 898 63 89.3 575
2016 26 94.2 430 2 99.9 697 30 96.8 896
2015 31 93 426 2 99.9 693 28 97 898 60 89.7 570
NOTES:
  • 1. See TableBuilder for the prior year data.
  • 2. Blank white cells indicate data not available, not applicable, or institution not eligible for survey.
  • 3. Data from the Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities is collected every two years.

Data

Number of earned doctorates, by trend major field of study of recipients: 2024–15
Fields 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
All fields 501 535 479 397 437 494 435 460 490 452
  Science and engineering 418 429 394 325 372 406 345 366 393 344
    Agricultural sciences and natural resources . . . . . . 2 . . .
      Natural resources and conservation . . . . . . 2 . . .
    Biological and biomedical sciences 89 82 72 57 78 72 61 86 83 71
      Biochemistry and biophysics 2 . . 2 2 4 3 5 7 1
      Biology and biomedical sciences, general 11 8 12 7 9 8 4 7 9 4
      Bioinformatics, biostatistics, and computational biology 13 12 11 5 15 16 15 18 9 11
      Cellular and developmental biology, and anatomy 3 6 6 6 4 4 3 4 7 9
      Ecology, evolutionary biology, and epidemiology 10 7 4 4 8 5 3 5 5 5
      Genetics and genomics 2 3 . . 1 1 1 7 5 2
      Microbiology and immunology 2 . 2 4 . 1 3 . 4 3
      Molecular biology 15 17 13 8 12 12 7 15 13 14
      Neurobiology and neurosciences 21 18 13 13 18 17 16 13 16 15
      Pharmacology and toxicology 5 4 4 3 1 . 3 3 1 1
      Physiology, pathology, and cancer biology 5 5 6 3 6 3 2 5 7 5
      Biology and biomedical sciences, other . 2 1 2 2 1 1 4 . 1
    Computer and information sciences 64 50 39 24 33 49 36 27 25 31
      Computer science 58 45 30 24 32 48 35 24 25 29
      Computer and information sciences, other 6 5 9 . 1 1 1 3 . 2
    Engineering 116 114 108 99 123 131 116 107 129 118
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 7 3 6 6 7 7 2 5 9 5
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 13 15 12 14 17 20 21 13 19 11
      Chemical and petroleum engineering 8 13 12 12 16 11 8 9 11 17
      Civil, environmental, and transportation engineering 6 10 12 10 12 16 12 9 11 8
      Electrical and computer engineering 53 46 36 43 41 45 38 42 46 52
      Industrial engineering and operations research 7 12 6 3 9 12 11 10 5 6
      Materials and mining engineering 7 6 5 4 5 8 4 7 8 8
      Mechanical engineering 13 7 13 5 13 10 16 7 17 7
      Engineering, other 2 2 6 2 3 2 4 5 3 4
    Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences 14 16 16 9 16 15 11 16 17 8
      Geological sciences 5 9 9 7 13 11 6 8 9 3
      Ocean, marine, and atmospheric sciences 9 7 7 2 3 4 5 8 8 5
    Health sciences 23 24 27 25 24 25 27 21 19 19
      Pharmaceutical sciences 7 8 5 14 5 12 14 8 2 8
      Public health 10 10 8 4 9 7 6 6 7 1
      Health sciences, other 6 6 14 7 10 6 7 7 10 10
    Mathematics and statistics 16 18 24 10 10 17 10 6 14 12
      Applied mathematics 4 3 16 5 7 6 4 3 4 4
      Mathematics 1 1 1 2 . 5 4 3 3 5
      Statistics 4 2 4 . 2 2 . . 2 2
      Mathematics and statistics, other 7 12 3 3 1 4 2 . 5 1
    Physical sciences 37 40 37 39 38 37 29 35 35 26
      Astronomy and astrophysics 3 7 1 5 1 . 2 . . .
      Chemistry 27 29 25 25 26 21 21 25 26 18
      Physics 7 4 11 9 11 16 6 10 9 8
    Psychology 13 11 19 10 15 12 12 14 16 17
      Clinical psychology 5 4 7 6 6 4 5 4 5 8
      Counseling and applied psychology . . 1 . . 1 . . . 1
      Research and experimental psychology 7 6 10 3 9 5 6 9 10 7
      Psychology, other 1 1 1 1 . 2 1 1 1 1
    Social sciences 46 74 52 52 35 48 41 54 55 42
      Anthropology . 1 . . . . . . 3 1
      Economics 16 23 12 18 9 16 9 17 13 5
      Political science and government 2 8 7 7 2 4 3 7 4 3
      Public policy analysis 3 4 5 4 2 2 5 1 9 3
      Sociology, demography, and population studies 10 2 4 2 5 6 5 1 5 1
      Social sciences, other 15 36 24 21 17 20 19 28 21 29
  Non-science and engineering 83 106 85 72 65 88 90 94 97 108
    Business 10 11 18 10 11 11 15 8 9 15
      Business 10 11 18 10 11 11 15 8 9 15
    Education 7 16 8 7 9 8 10 12 18 10
      Education leadership and administration 2 1 2 2 1 2 4 6 4 1
      Education research 2 15 6 3 8 6 6 3 11 8
      Teacher education and teaching fields 2 . . . . . . . 1 1
      Education, other 1 . . 2 . . . 3 2 .
    Humanities and arts 48 50 35 28 23 40 38 47 41 53
      Letters 22 22 16 11 6 13 14 19 17 18
      Foreign languages and literature 2 4 2 1 1 2 4 6 3 2
      History 6 2 3 3 4 4 2 6 2 15
      Philosophy and religious studies 8 5 6 2 3 6 8 5 4 6
      Music and performing arts 1 2 . . . 3 1 2 . 1
      Humanities and arts, other 9 15 8 11 9 12 9 9 15 11
    Other non-science and engineering 18 29 24 27 22 29 27 27 29 30
      Communication 12 21 14 18 15 18 17 16 21 22
      Public administration and social services 6 5 9 8 5 8 9 7 6 7
      Non-science and engineering, other . 3 1 1 2 3 1 4 2 1

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates

Full-time graduate students in science, engineering, and health, by selected characteristics: 2024–15
All races 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
  U.S. citizens and permanent residents   3,182   3,460   3,512   3,726   2,709   2,589   2,285   2,240   2,655   2,619
    Hispanic or Latino   640   613   630   586   425   370   332   338   372   351
    Not Hispanic or Latino   2,434   2,738   2,810   3,043   2,199   2,136   1,857   1,807   2,164   2,192
      American Indian or Alaska Native   8   6   5   10   12   6   4   6   19   7
      Asian   1,110   1,185   1,110   1,157   743   691   585   566   706   655
      Black or African American   174   174   183   205   132   139   128   110   190   164
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander   3   7   10   13   10   19   13   10   11   8
      White   968   1,179   1,280   1,441   1,174   1,161   1,052   1,035   1,232   1,276
      More than one race   171   187   222   217   128   120   75   80   6   82
    Unknown ethnicity and race   108   109   72   97   85   83   96   95   119   76
  Temporary visa holders   5,407   5,696   6,050   5,541   4,210   5,108   4,183   4,172   4,470   4,197
  Science and engineering   8,017   8,463   8,802   8,463   6,312   7,071   5,892   5,880   6,589   6,300
    Science   5,827   6,092   6,310   6,267   4,552   4,870   3,739   3,625   4,457   4,071
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   4
      Biological and biomedical sciences   917   873   785   1,060   700   693   626   537   440   501
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   503   504
      Computer and information sciences   2,778   3,004   3,246   2,731   1,988   2,349   1,432   1,426   1,418   1,263
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   109   107   110   109   102   99   90   100   92   92
      Mathematics and statistics   312   359   369   385   128   155   145   153   153   133
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   279   284   302   403   315   310   378   386   233   167
      Natural resources and conservation   13   18   50   60   10   7   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   344   340   313   324   316   322   254   243   239   245
      Psychology   222   258   260   261   220   225   205   139   162   73
      Social sciences   853   849   875   934   773   710   609   641   1,118   974
    Engineering   2,190   2,371   2,492   2,196   1,760   2,201   2,153   2,255   2,132   2,229
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   134   181   167   151   110   70   56   56   52   55
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   204   192   180   169   150   169   163   200   185   202
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   89   91   111   118   117   144   268   328   361   342
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   184   207   156   159   167   212   186   226   196   220
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   962   1,024   1,130   963   728   1,040   1,084   1,042   944   961
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   130   115   143   162   95   94   177   180   182   221
      Mechanical engineering   194   208   231   207   178   215   208   214   199   215
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   21   34   34   26   32   40   0   0   0   0
      Other engineering   272   319   340   241   183   217   11   9   13   13
    Health   572   693   760   804   607   626   576   532   536   516
      Clinical medicine   346   463   515   563   330   316   286   295   314   299
      Other health   226   230   245   241   277   310   290   237   222   217

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Fields of study are grouped as they appear in survey data table (https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvygradpostdoc/#tabs-2).

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

Part-time graduate students in science, engineering, and health, by selected characteristics: 2024–15
All races 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
  U.S. citizens and permanent residents   1,270   1,311   1,247   1,587   1,095   1,008   918   953   1,346   1,197
    Hispanic or Latino   299   282   252   294   188   168   123   149   217   170
    Not Hispanic or Latino   929   986   951   1,225   867   783   743   748   1,057   969
      American Indian or Alaska Native   4   2   3   6   4   3   2   0   7   3
      Asian   406   387   343   441   271   223   209   233   318   266
      Black or African American   63   75   69   86   67   55   51   42   119   71
      Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander   3   3   2   4   4   6   4   4   7   7
      White   399   460   476   601   484   458   441   437   605   588
      More than one race   54   59   58   87   37   38   36   32   1   34
    Unknown ethnicity and race   42   43   44   68   40   57   52   56   72   58
  Temporary visa holders   539   677   601   911   1,106   1,051   907   1,007   900   1,000
  Science and engineering   1,663   1,788   1,654   2,237   2,036   1,879   1,671   1,780   2,082   2,030
    Science   870   989   836   1,148   1,019   775   486   532   920   847
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   43   52   30   52   28   24   17   25   3   2
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   144   149
      Computer and information sciences   591   708   533   732   666   536   285   345   310   396
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   1   1   0   1   1   1   1   3   3   6
      Mathematics and statistics   20   27   8   8   9   10   4   11   13   18
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   62   55   65   92   66   94   78   85   84   72
      Natural resources and conservation   1   0   2   3   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   2   0   2   5   2   6   2   0   0   3
      Psychology   14   11   20   30   22   34   36   1   32   3
      Social sciences   136   135   176   225   225   70   63   62   326   196
    Engineering   793   799   818   1,089   1,017   1,104   1,185   1,248   1,162   1,183
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   274   256   244   270   200   109   152   157   161   99
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   27   27   33   44   29   27   47   43   46   53
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   5   5   14   17   15   37   102   154   136   155
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   40   37   22   29   29   61   80   102   76   78
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   176   199   219   331   454   446   531   488   450   445
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   86   87   79   111   57   75   79   100   95   140
      Mechanical engineering   91   83   92   133   120   196   186   195   191   204
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   8   5   6   11   9   22   0   0   0   0
      Other engineering   86   100   109   143   104   131   8   9   7   9
    Health   146   200   194   261   165   180   154   180   164   167
      Clinical medicine   75   101   114   158   65   75   72   60   36   22
      Other health   71   99   80   103   100   105   82   120   128   145

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Fields of study are grouped as they appear in survey data table (https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvygradpostdoc/#tabs-2).

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

Full-time graduate students in science, engineering, and health receiving primary support from federal sources, by field: 2024–15
Field 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
All surveyed fields   896   933   832   799   752   716   682   782   695   720
  Science and engineering   873   915   793   766   721   664   630   741   652   686
    Science   456   480   468   454   442   446   393   494   401   456
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   183   184   177   180   182   158   122   210   129   164
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   0
      Computer and information sciences   104   122   138   120   123   135   156   125   100   114
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   29   27   23   32   23   23   15   22   24   26
      Mathematics and statistics   4   2   8   2   1   3   3   4   1   4
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   1   2   4   0   5   6   7   12   13   6
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   1   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   104   112   86   89   76   93   67   90   64   60
      Psychology   15   18   10   8   11   15   11   12   14   13
      Social sciences   16   13   22   23   20   13   12   19   14   21
    Engineering   417   435   325   312   279   218   237   247   251   230
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   13   8   5   4   8   3   5   4   0   4
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   85   89   3   3   3   2   22   39   31   44
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   26   21   17   19   3   18   20   25   27   27
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   45   36   28   32   26   23   35   32   34   9
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   207   239   216   216   200   133   127   99   115   118
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   15   21   26   21   22   13   22   18   15   16
      Mechanical engineering   26   21   30   17   17   26   6   30   27   12
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Other engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   2   0
    Health   23   18   39   33   31   52   52   41   43   34
      Clinical medicine   13   6   2   8   3   5   17   14   11   13
      Other health   10   12   37   25   28   47   35   27   32   21

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Fields of study are grouped as they appear in survey data table (https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvygradpostdoc/#tabs-2).

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

Full-time graduate students in science, engineering, and health, by type and primary source of support: 2024–15
Type and primary source of support 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
All types and sources of support   8,589   9,156   9,562   9,267   6,919   7,697   6,468   6,412   7,125   6,816
  Fellowships   705   647   573   594   590   689   624   563   595   632
    Federal   89   88   88   80   76   111   96   85   90   70
    Institutional   552   507   448   485   471   501   471   435   463   508
    Nonfederal   64   52   37   29   43   77   57   43   42   54
  Research assistantships   1,405   1,418   1,390   1,416   1,232   1,177   1,098   1,015   1,032   1,024
    Federal   775   833   723   690   635   576   575   676   591   640
    Institutional   520   480   554   637   512   496   426   209   313   280
    Nonfederal   110   105   113   89   85   105   97   130   128   104
  Teaching assistantships   738   708   709   662   665   673   631   724   713   708
    Federal   0   0   1   0   7   13   0   0   0   0
    Institutional   738   708   708   655   656   659   628   723   708   688
    Nonfederal   0   0   0   7   2   1   3   1   5   20
  Other types of support   5,741   6,383   6,890   6,595   4,432   5,158   4,115   4,110   4,785   4,452
    Federal   32   12   20   29   34   16   11   21   14   10
    Institutional   138   192   92   199   116   108   96   139   255   331
    Nonfederal   89   42   36   67   64   29   90   46   20   27
    Personal resources   5,482   6,137   6,742   6,300   4,218   5,005   3,918   3,904   4,496   4,084

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

Postdoctorates in science, engineering, and health, by selected characteristics: 2024–15
All races 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
  Science and engineering   277   261   276   300   277   285   287   304   276   280
    Science   202   190   216   241   213   228   238   250   226   239
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   100   89   109   120   103   126   126   139   108   116
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   1   2
      Computer and information sciences   5   4   2   2   9   11   10   3   8   13
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   21   20   19   20   16   17   22   30   24   20
      Mathematics and statistics   15   14   24   28   14   0   0   0   0   0
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   12   14   13   15   13   14   27   20   18   17
      Natural resources and conservation   2   0   1   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   24   26   28   39   36   37   26   31   24   26
      Psychology   1   1   1   2   6   9   8   11   12   20
      Social sciences   22   22   19   15   16   14   19   16   25   22
    Engineering   75   71   60   59   64   57   49   54   50   41
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   3   1   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   14   14   9   6   4   5   13   11   9   8
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   7   6   6   6   6   5   5   12   14   16
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   15   9   7   4   5   4   5   5   4   1
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   31   34   30   29   36   29   18   13   16   12
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   1   2   1   3   4   6   5   4   2   1
      Mechanical engineering   7   6   4   10   9   8   3   9   5   3
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Other engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
    Health   154   160   179   161   173   171   172   148   173   195
      Clinical medicine   126   136   142   144   149   150   145   130   157   179
      Other health   28   24   37   17   24   21   27   18   16   16

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Fields of study are grouped as they appear in survey data table (https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvygradpostdoc/#tabs-2).

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

Federally supported science, engineering, and health postdoctorates, by field: 2024–15
Field 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
All surveyed fields   231   240   282   270   252   266   243   253   229   221
  Science and engineering   148   157   167   184   166   189   180   196   174   159
    Science   100   115   126   147   128   152   151   167   142   143
      Agricultural and veterinary sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological and biomedical sciences   61   70   85   103   81   93   78   100   69   73
      Communication   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Computer and information sciences   2   0   2   1   7   8   8   3   4   12
      Family and consumer sciences and human sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences   4   3   6   3   1   3   11   14   18   14
      Mathematics and statistics   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary sciences   12   14   13   13   11   13   26   18   18   17
      Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Physical sciences   15   22   16   24   24   28   17   21   16   15
      Psychology   1   1   1   1   3   6   7   9   10   8
      Social sciences   5   5   3   2   1   1   4   2   4   4
    Engineering   48   42   41   37   38   37   29   29   32   16
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Biological, biomedical, and biosystems engineering   10   8   6   4   2   4   8   6   5   5
      Chemical, petroleum, and chemical-related engineering   0   2   4   3   0   4   2   7   7   4
      Civil, environmental, transportation and related engineering fields   8   5   5   2   2   3   4   4   4   0
      Electrical, electronics, communications and computer engineering   26   24   22   23   29   18   13   10   11   5
      Industrial, manufacturing, systems engineering and operations research   0   1   1   0   1   2   0   1   0   0
      Mechanical engineering   4   2   3   5   4   6   2   1   5   2
      Metallurgical, mining, materials and related engineering fields   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Other engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
    Health   83   83   115   86   86   77   63   57   55   62
      Clinical medicine   73   76   89   75   71   62   56   48   48   57
      Other health   10   7   26   11   15   15   7   9   7   5

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Fields of study are grouped as they appear in survey data table (https://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvygradpostdoc/#tabs-2).

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering

Total R&D expenditures, by field: 2024–15
(Dollars in thousands)
Field 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
  All R&D fields   1,264,197   1,154,804   1,039,905   955,565   941,198   909,683   891,625   764,322   702,866   691,031
    Science   1,105,798   997,684   915,034   837,346   821,502   792,962   781,712   656,302   596,146   580,930
      Computer and information sciences   125,806   122,842   112,104   115,694   121,116   124,944   119,500   108,804   87,870   92,058
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   20,003   20,785   22,308   14,323   19,983   16,850   16,323   15,855   19,128   20,051
        Atmospheric science and meteorology   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Geological and earth sciences   8,483   10,697   9,472   10,291   11,575   12,588   12,550   12,440   12,907   13,762
        Ocean sciences and marine sciences   11,520   10,088   12,836   4,032   5,953   4,262   3,773   3,415   6,221   6,289
        Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences nec   0   0   0   0   2,455   0   0   0   0   0
      Life sciences   843,447   744,073   680,873   598,925   580,982   568,194   579,028   471,334   422,781   411,987
        Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Biological and biomedical sciences   464,609   382,074   398,478   117,462   132,168   140,622   137,003   126,927   119,227   45,111
        Health sciences   356,769   342,531   262,080   468,905   427,949   408,849   428,328   334,385   293,690   350,720
        Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Life sciences nec   22,069   19,468   20,315   12,558   20,865   18,723   13,697   10,022   9,864   16,156
      Mathematics and statistics   1,932   2,031   1,392   1,472   1,617   1,500   1,220   1,218   1,464   1,707
      Physical sciences   21,423   18,195   17,696   21,413   23,644   20,109   17,751   16,075   20,210   16,924
        Astronomy and astrophysics   8,490   6,542   6,221   2   16   14   1,225   1   103   27
        Chemistry   12,933   11,653   11,475   12,687   14,232   14,258   12,180   12,856   15,831   13,984
        Materials science   0   0   0   2,965   1,433   1,427   1,611   0   1,236   0
        Physics   0   0   0   5,759   5,508   4,410   2,735   3,218   3,040   2,913
        Physical sciences nec   0   0   0   0   2,455   0   0   0   0   0
      Psychology   8,860   8,053   5,103   9,837   14,234   9,153   8,241   8,618   10,137   9,935
      Social sciences   84,327   81,705   75,558   75,520   59,926   52,212   39,649   34,390   33,595   27,941
        Anthropology   1,618   678   416   120   282   223   39   16   49   0
        Economics   39,291   36,478   27,359   476   1,250   1,776   2,280   1,845   12,365   9,255
        Political science and government   303   641   492   250   374   341   1,138   201   470   839
        Sociology, demography, and population studies   1,558   659   611   2,326   861   678   234   308   395   1,752
        Social sciences nec   41,557   43,249   46,680   72,348   57,159   49,194   35,958   32,020   20,316   16,095
      Sciences nec   0   0   0   162   0   0   0   8   961   327
    Engineering   90,850   82,633   63,694   78,179   78,005   76,180   72,961   69,226   65,883   69,527
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   5,827   5,907   4,996   1,234   1,523   1,899   1,712   1,101   2,274   1,112
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering   15,393   12,259   7,801   7,307   8,416   8,926   17,744   13,476   11,623   12,305
      Chemical engineering   8,724   9,113   8,307   2,768   3,205   4,278   2,157   3,857   4,170   9,532
      Civil engineering   7,828   4,712   3,608   13,481   7,048   7,441   4,365   7,889   6,546   3,809
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering   44,361   41,441   32,486   40,794   42,612   39,615   33,250   27,115   26,225   28,071
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering   2,814   3,154   2,572   2,528   2,425   2,377   1,846   2,350   2,254   0
      Mechanical engineering   0   0   0   5,585   6,665   7,783   6,689   5,691   4,117   4,828
      Metallurgical and materials engineering   0   0   0   2   0   0   20   1,798   178   2,629
      Engineering nec   5,903   6,047   3,924   4,480   6,111   3,861   5,178   5,949   8,496   7,241
    Non-S&E   67,549   74,487   61,177   40,040   41,691   40,541   36,952   38,794   40,837   40,574
      Business management and business administration   1,429   1,227   1,673   1,665   1,947   2,053   1,098   1,799   2,085   2,753
      Communication and communications technologies   8,742   11,396   9,240   8,701   6,699   5,692   6,009   5,936   7,714   10,265
      Education   15,419   14,155   12,039   9,202   9,021   9,384   5,956   7,841   7,969   6,291
      Humanities   3,950   6,226   5,895   3,022   2,804   2,822   1,693   1,489   1,903   2,475
      Law   247   308   607   919   1,129   1,469   2,293   1,385   1,315   2,099
      Social work   14,639   13,695   14,598   9,814   8,761   9,717   12,555   15,397   14,393   12,629
      Visual and performing arts   2,817   3,463   2,324   2,357   4,004   3,613   3,583   4,239   4,828   3,356
      Non-S&E nec   20,306   24,017   14,801   4,360   7,326   5,791   3,765   708   630   706

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Prior to FY 2016, expenditures for natural resources and conservation, materials science, anthropology, and industrial and manufacturing engineering were not collected separately. R&D expenditures in agricultural sciences decreased in FY 2016 because a number of disciplines previously reported in that field are now reported separately under natural resources and conservation.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Higher Education R&D Survey

Total R&D expenditures, by source of funds and R&D field: 2024
(Dollars in thousands)
Field All R&D expenditures Federal government State and local government Institution funds Business Nonprofit organizations All other sources
  All R&D fields   1,264,197   739,426   17,038   260,889   122,970   70,079   53,795
    Science   1,105,798   645,057   13,648   231,176   119,362   51,494   45,061
      Computer and information sciences   125,806   121,516   0   1,998   347   1,301   644
      Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   20,003   11,094   1,274   4,129   68   2,342   1,096
        Atmospheric science and meteorology   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Geological and earth sciences   8,483   5,940   115   1,185   0   929   314
        Ocean sciences and marine sciences   11,520   5,154   1,159   2,944   68   1,413   782
        Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Life sciences   843,447   425,465   11,978   211,329   116,969   39,773   37,933
        Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Biological and biomedical sciences   464,609   227,915   1,251   111,870   77,625   16,506   29,442
        Health sciences   356,769   188,084   8,815   93,643   38,951   20,593   6,683
        Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Life sciences nec   22,069   9,466   1,912   5,816   393   2,674   1,808
      Mathematics and statistics   1,932   1,350   0   271   0   239   72
      Physical sciences   21,423   14,467   0   3,241   1,905   951   859
        Astronomy and astrophysics   8,490   6,520   0   918   0   809   243
        Chemistry   12,933   7,947   0   2,323   1,905   142   616
        Materials science   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Physics   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
        Physical sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Psychology   8,860   8,206   0   304   0   256   94
      Social sciences   84,327   62,959   396   9,904   73   6,632   4,363
        Anthropology   1,618   1,350   0   117   0   120   31
        Economics   39,291   35,235   0   1,879   0   1,465   712
        Political science and government   303   230   0   34   0   30   9
        Sociology, demography, and population studies   1,558   130   0   665   0   545   218
        Social sciences nec   41,557   26,014   396   7,209   73   4,472   3,393
      Sciences nec   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
    Engineering   90,850   75,260   1,026   7,263   2,682   1,945   2,674
      Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering   5,827   4,077   134   815   461   124   216
      Bioengineering and biomedical engineering   15,393   14,795   21   278   0   225   74
      Chemical engineering   8,724   4,215   398   2,101   973   270   767
      Civil engineering   7,828   6,766   344   495   39   49   135
      Electrical, electronic, and communications engineering   44,361   36,800   106   3,523   1,206   1,258   1,468
      Industrial and manufacturing engineering   2,814   2,761   12   25   3   6   7
      Mechanical engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Metallurgical and materials engineering   0   0   0   0   0   0   0
      Engineering nec   5,903   5,846   11   26   0   13   7
    Non-S&E   67,549   19,109   2,364   22,450   926   16,640   6,060
      Business management and business administration   1,429   268   0   541   0   477   143
      Communication and communications technologies   8,742   229   0   3,942   241   3,242   1,088
      Education   15,419   3,364   244   5,584   279   4,384   1,564
      Humanities   3,950   60   0   1,800   0   1,606   484
      Law   247   172   0   35   0   31   9
      Social work   14,639   4,446   1,868   4,714   0   2,362   1,249
      Visual and performing arts   2,817   2,817   0   0   0   0   0
      Non-S&E nec   20,306   7,753   252   5,834   406   4,538   1,523

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Prior to FY 2016, expenditures for natural resources and conservation, materials science, anthropology, and industrial and manufacturing engineering were not collected separately. R&D expenditures in agricultural sciences decreased in FY 2016 because a number of disciplines previously reported in that field are now reported separately under natural resources and conservation.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Higher Education R&D Survey

Federally funded R&D expenditures, by federal agency: 2024–15
(Dollars in thousands)
Source of funds 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015
Federal Agencies   739,426   683,819   601,747   574,185   562,120   543,607   501,893   450,204   409,516   421,227
  DOD   137,106   132,806   122,075   126,122   130,708   133,937   127,457   86,429   74,345   75,197
  DOE   9,874   10,477   10,556   9,045   8,018   7,490   7,059   7,560   8,168   10,334
  HHS   509,191   456,503   397,767   367,995   348,029   328,895   300,761   273,513   254,261   258,428
  NASA   3,503   3,560   3,539   3,338   2,874   2,676   3,647   4,211   4,696   4,189
  NSF   61,278   58,556   46,412   49,721   56,035   50,376   41,458   42,900   42,954   43,569
  USDA   133   93   77   52   449   650   730   309   601   310
  Other   18,341   21,824   21,321   17,912   16,007   19,583   20,781   35,282   24,491   29,200

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Higher Education R&D Survey

Headcount of R&D personnel: 2024–18 [temporarily discontinued]
Year
2024   .   .   .   .
2023   .   .   .   .
2022   .   .   .   .
2021   .   .   .   .
2020   .   .   .   .
2019   11,344   1,680   9,664   .
2018   8,696   1,361   7,335   .

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Higher Education R&D Survey

Science and engineering research space in academic institutions, by field: 2023–14
(Net assignable square feet in thousands)
Field, medical school space, and research animal space 2023 2021 2019 2017 2015
  All research space   1,082   1,128   1,052   1,023   997
    Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Biological and biomedical sciences   250   273   238   237   276
    Computer and information sciences   155   161   188   84   100
    Engineering   194   226   147   144   133
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   22   24   78   69   68
    Health sciences   294   249   237   220   163
    Mathematics and statistics   0   0   1   1   1
    Natural resources and conservation   34   48   0   0   0
    Physical sciences   64   69   72   64   61
    Psychology   13   16   23   23   24
    Social sciences   10   9   46   44   36
    Other   47   52   23   138   136

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Data from the Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities is collected every two years.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities

New construction of science and engineering research space, by field and time of construction: 2025–16
(Net assignable square feet in thousands)
Field, medical school space, and research animal space Planned to start in FY 2024 or FY 2025 Started in FY 2022 or FY 2023 Started in FY 2020 or FY 2021 Started in FY 2018 or FY 2019 Started in FY 2016 or FY 2017
  All research space   0   150,630   0   45,317   0
    Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Biological and biomedical sciences   0   150,630   0   20,945   0
    Computer and information sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Engineering   0   0   0   12,872   0
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Health sciences   0   0   0   11,500   0
    Mathematics and statistics   0   0   0   0   0
    Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0
    Physical sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Psychology   0   0   0   0   0
    Social sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Other   0   0   0   0   0

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Data from the Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities is collected every two years.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities

Costs for repair and renovation of science and engineering research space in academic institutions, by field and time of repair and renovation: 2025–16
(Dollars in thousands)
Field, medical school space, and research animal space Planned to start in FY 2024 or FY 2025 Started in FY 2022 or FY 2023 Started in FY 2020 or FY 2021 Started in FY 2018 or FY 2019 Started in FY 2016 or FY 2017
  All research space   15,643   72,365   28,955   71,880   28,596
    Agricultural sciences   0   0   0   0   0
    Biological and biomedical sciences   4,597   36,836   10,726   27,911   8,383
    Computer and information sciences   0   723   0   5,054   2,036
    Engineering   0   7,350   3,198   21,109   7,841
    Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences   6,561   1,405   683   6,259   6,060
    Health sciences   3,985   23,389   7,878   4,990   0
    Mathematics and statistics   0   0   0   0   1,946
    Natural resources and conservation   0   0   0   0   0
    Physical sciences   0   2,200   5,513   4,670   1,475
    Psychology   500   0   956   0   854
    Social sciences   0   461   0   1,888   0
    Other   0   0   0   0   0

NOTE:
  • . = data were not collected at this level or institution was not eligible to participate for this survey year.
  • Data from the Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities is collected every two years.

SOURCE: National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Science and Engineering Research Facilities

Open printer friendly view

Back to Top of page.